About the Program

The Community Access Program (CAP) is a Government of Canada initiative, administered by Industry Canada, which aims to provide Canadians with affordable public access to the Internet and the skills they need to use it effectively. With the combined efforts of the federal, provincial and territorial governments, community groups, social agencies, libraries, schools, volunteer groups and the business community, CAP helps Canadians, wherever they live, take advantage of emerging opportunities in the new global knowledge-based economy.

CAP is also complemented by its youth initiative, the Community Access Program Youth Initiative (CAP YI). The youth program provides employment opportunities to young Canadians between the ages of 15 to 30 in various CAP sites across the country. The Prince Edward Island CAP YI provides unique employment opportunities for PEI youth, developing interpersonal skills, as well as skills in information technology and project management.

The Island Narratives Program adds a new dimension to the CAP Youth Initiative. Along with providing experience in information technology, the Island Narratives Program was designed to enhance project management skills through a year long digital collection project. Over 60 youth have been employed throughout the year, with 15 acting as Project Coordinators.

The Island Narratives Program also strives to give back to the communities that have generously donated their time and resources to the projects. The produced research and archival collection will be available to the public and preserved through UPEI's Robertson Library. This rich collection of history captures the unique character of each featured community, contributing to community awareness, education, and historical preservation by creating a digitized collection of the past for future generations.

For more information on Prince Edward Island's Community Access Program, visit www.peicaps.org